Volume 9 Chapter 2 Ginaida Livorno
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Run, Gina!”
The boy grabbed his sister’s hand and sprinted through the estate halls.
”Brother! Didn’t something bite your arm just now?!”
”I’m fine. It only tore my sleeve.”
He raised his arm, showing the ripped fabric but no wound. His eyes darted around, searching for anyone else nearby.
”Somebody! Please! An intruder’s in the estate!”
He ran only a short distance before running out of breath. His shoes thudded over the red carpet, echoing down the stone corridor as he climbed the stairs. He shouted for the servants, but not one appeared.
”Why is no one here?!”
”Brother, she’s following—”
Something burst up the stairs behind them.
With only a few long strides, it reached the landing right behind them.
”Where do you think you’re going? A boy running from a girl—don’t you think that’s pathetic? Come on, let’s have some fun!”
Her chest bounced wildly as she taunted them. The woman’s outfit clung to her curves so tightly it seemed more suited for mockery than modesty. She was a Beastkin—muscular, sharp-eyed, and brazenly predatory.
Klock’s breath caught. Her grin was wicked, her body terrifyingly powerful.
The siblings darted into a nearby room and locked the door.
”This is the worst. What’s with that outfit?!”
”Now’s not the time! We have to get out the window.”
That Beastkin, who called herself Celestina, moved like a beast on the hunt. She’d break down the door any second.
They exchanged a look and threw open the window. Klock helped his sister climb the frame, then jumped down onto the small roof below the entrance. He pulled Gina after him, and together they leapt across to the opposite side.
”Ow—are you okay?”
”Yes.”
They landed in the garden, scaled the outer wall, and escaped the Livorno estate with practiced agility.
”Brother, do you know that Beastkin?”
”No. She must be a kidnapper. She knew Father wasn’t home.”
Still, something didn’t add up. The entire estate was silent. Not one servant or guard had appeared. If this was a kidnapping, more people should’ve been involved.
They ran through the open grounds. No one—nothing—moved.
”If we find the soldiers, they’ll help.”
”No, Brother. Look.”
The Livorno estate stood near the barracks. Yet even there, the halls were empty.
”What’s going on? Did everyone leave?”
”No… they vanished.”
Klock called out again. No reply. No sound of life. Then—a beastly snort outside.
”Horses. We’ll borrow one.”
”Where will we go?”
”To the village. There must be people there.”
He led a horse from the stable. He’d ridden these before. He jumped into the saddle with ease and reached a hand down.
”Come on, Gina.”
He’d lost count of how many times he’d pulled her up today. Their sweaty palms slipped as they gripped, but she climbed up behind him.
They took off. The wind stung his face. Riding alone was new to him, but he had no choice.
”Brother!”
He turned—and saw her.
”Not bad for kids! I like a good chase!”
Celestina was following them, her huge frame pounding the earth, breasts heaving as she ran like a predator unleashed.
”She’s fast,” Gina said quietly, clinging to his waist.
Her calm voice steadied him. I have to protect her, Klock thought. No matter what.
”Don’t worry. I won’t let her touch you.”
”Yes, Brother. I’m fine.”
The path split through dry grass, dust rising beneath the horse’s hooves. The Beastkin closed in with frightening speed, but she was still on foot. Little by little, they pulled ahead.
Soon, she was gone from sight.
The village appeared in the distance.
”Almost there.”
But when they arrived, the gate stood open. No guards. No one greeted them.
The horse clattered through the narrow lanes. Every door hung ajar. Every window dark.
”No people,” Gina whispered.
”It’s not normal,” Klock said. “Something’s wrong.”
The village should have been alive by now—farmers tending fields, children laughing, the smell of morning firewood. But nothing.
It was as if every villager had been taken away.
Cold sweat slid down Klock’s neck.
”Brother, let’s hide.”
He nodded. They’d run far, and the horse was exhausted.
”Hide the horse in that stable,” he said. “I’ll find a place for us.”
”Understood, Brother.”
He watched her lead the horse away, proud and uneasy all at once.
Gina led the horse by its reins.
When had she learned to handle a horse? Klock followed her with quiet amazement, then turned toward the empty village streets.
”Why isn’t anyone here? What happened?”
He entered one of the houses. No one answered when he called out.
He’d visited neighboring villages many times but never stepped inside someone’s home before. Despite the eerie silence, curiosity flickered in his chest as he looked around.
Could the villagers have all been taken?
No… that’s impossible. To capture this many people, you’d need an army. Someone would have noticed.
”Playing hide-and-seek now, are we?”
Klock froze.
The wooden door creaked open. A tall shadow slipped inside, ears twitching atop her head. The woman grinned—a beast ready for the hunt.
”How… how did you find me?”
”Heh. Too bad, kid. Once I mark my prey, it doesn’t matter where you run. I can always tell where you are.”
”Wait… that’s a Unique Skill…?”
Her smirk widened. He’d guessed right. Behind her, a strange thin tail swayed, twitching with satisfaction. Not wolf. Not bear. Something else—something he’d never seen in any textbook.
”I like breaking cocky men,” she said, her voice low and hungry. “Watching strong ones crumble, seeing that proud face twist—I love it. Though I prefer older ones, I’ll make an exception for you, brat. You made Lady Kispe waste her time.”
”What are you—ugh!”
He tried to run, but she caught him instantly, lifting him by the collar like prey caught in a predator’s jaws.
”Again with the Arrowhead of Corruption, huh?”
”Hm?”
A voice called from behind. The woman turned her head for an instant—and that was enough. Klock slipped out of his jacket and broke free.
”Gina! Run!”
”Let go of my brother, you Beastkin devil!”
She’d come back—Gina, her voice sharp with anger. The horse was gone; she must have hidden it. She stood behind the Beastkin woman, her presence cold and fierce.
”Oh? Calling me a devil means you’re one of those Goddess believers, huh? Strange though… only me and this boy should be inside his dream. You breaking into someone’s dream—how rude can you get?”
”Dream…?”
Celestina’s words made no sense. Klock shouted again, “Just run!” But Gina didn’t move. She only glanced at him for a heartbeat.
She stood like a warrior now—alert, silent, ready to strike. Klock stared, confused. His little sister looked nothing like the child he’d known.
”How’d you get here anyway? Only Lady Kispe can cross to the Crimson Spire.”
”I wish I knew,” Gina said coolly. “Yesterday I fought a hideous Incubus named Bors. Maybe that’s why.”
”What—Bors?”
They clearly shared knowledge Klock didn’t. The way Gina and Celestina spoke left him bewildered.
”So that’s it,” Celestina muttered. “He used your inferiority complex. Figures.”
Celestina—so that was her name—shifted her gaze between them.
”Tell me something. You two really brother and sister?”
”What—what’s it to you?!”
”Heh. Just curious. What a miracle—brother and sister, showing up in the Crimson Spire at the same time.”
She laughed, dry and mocking. “And brought here by the same siblings on this side, too. Funny how that works.”
Klock couldn’t follow her meaning. Gina glared, her expression hard.
”So that’s how it is,” Celestina said. “This world’s a dream. Everything you see—an illusion. But that brother of yours? He’s real. And now—he’s coming with me.”
Gina’s eyes hardened. The air around her changed. The twelve-year-old girl in a simple dress took a fighter’s stance—like an adventurer facing a monster.
What am I doing just standing here?
How long am I going to look this pathetic?
”—Take this!”
Still in her grip, Klock twisted his body and kicked upward. His boot grazed her face—square on the nose.
Now! This is my chance!
If he could seal her tracking skill, they could escape.
She flinched, dropping him. He moved fast, catching her by the chest—only to freeze when he realized his hand had sunk deep into her enormous breasts.
For a second, his brain stalled.
Skill activate—Bandit.
”Brother!”
”Run, Gina!”
He rolled to the floor, got up, and dashed for the door. Celestina clutched her face, snarling. Klock and Gina bolted out of the house.
He’d stolen her tracking skill. If they reached the horse, they could finally get away.
”Brother,” Gina said, catching her breath, “I have so many questions.”
”Huh?”
”You really are my brother, aren’t you? Not a dream? Not a ghost? That means… you were alive all this time!”
”Alive…?”
”Like hell you’re escaping!” Celestina roared. The door slammed open behind them. Her earlier smile was gone—her rage, feral.
Her tail stood stiff, her ears flattened back. She charged, less like a succubus and more like a pure Beastkin.
”You little brats! You think you can—”
”Stay out of this!”
The words came from Gina. Her shout was raw, her tone uncharacteristically harsh. Klock stared, stunned—not because it was unladylike, but because his noble little sister, always so proper, now sounded like a warrior.
Gina had never spoken like that before.
Her hand found Klock’s, gripping tight. When she stopped, he did too. She turned back, facing Celestina head-on.
”Divine Shield—Dynamis Shield!”
The ground trembled. From beneath Gina’s feet, violet crystal stems burst upward like living plants. But they weren’t plants—they were mineral, raw and gleaming like amethyst. The crystals spread outward, cracking the earth as they grew.
Celestina frowned. “A Unique Skill, huh? ‘Shield,’ so it’s defensive… but it doesn’t look like plain defense.”
The amethyst vines expanded like roots overtaking soil, transforming the earth itself into gemstone. It was less a shield and more a spell that rewrote the world around her.
Klock stared, wide-eyed. Gina has a Unique Skill?
Only one person in an entire town was ever born with one—and both siblings had them.
”Brother,” Gina said calmly. “That demon can’t touch us now.”
”What?”
Celestina’s voice cracked in disbelief. Gina tugged Klock’s hand and ran.
Celestina lunged after them—but stopped short. “What the—?”
For a Beastkin’s reflexes, the distance was nothing. She could have caught them easily. But her claws sliced through empty air. An unseen barrier stopped her.
”This shield can’t be pierced,” Gina said. “No beast’s claw will ever reach us.”
Celestina’s hand passed through nothingness—something both invisible and unyielding. The barrier split space itself, keeping them apart.
”There are attack Skills out there that kill in one hit,” Celestina muttered, glaring. “Never thought I’d see a defense one that’s just as broken.”
Ignoring her, Gina pulled Klock along. Celestina tried again to grab him, but every attempt failed.
The siblings reached their horse. Gina mounted first, bold and steady, and Klock swung up behind her.
”You’re not getting away!” Celestina roared. “Damn brats!”
She slashed with her claws—but they only sliced through air again. Her strikes slid off the invisible barrier like water off glass.
For the first time, Celestina’s face twisted with frustration. The invincible defense left her powerless.
”Begone, Succubus,” Gina said coldly.
Knowing pursuit was useless, Celestina finally stopped. The siblings galloped away. When Klock looked back, the Beastkin woman only stood there, motionless, watching them vanish.
”Gina,” he said quietly.
”…Brother,” she murmured. “About what just happened…”
”It’s fine. You don’t have to explain your Unique Skill. I just want to say—you’re incredible.”
”…Thank you.”
Even family shouldn’t pry into Unique Skills. That was Klock’s belief. If he questioned her, he’d have no excuse for keeping his own power secret.
”I know I shouldn’t ask,” he said, “but one thing—your ability. Is it really invincible?”
She shook her head. “No, Brother. Once someone learns how it works, it’s easily broken. And they’ll find out soon, even if I stay silent.”
”I see. That’s enough. I won’t ask more.”
The world wasn’t that kind. No ability was perfect. Still, she’d saved his life. My little sister… she’s grown stronger than I ever imagined.
He remembered how timid she’d once been—before her engagement to Amadei. After she’d been told she’d inherit the family’s name, Gina had changed. Matured. Accepted too much, too fast. And he’d thought that was sad.
”You’ve grown up, Gina. You don’t need me to protect you anymore.”
”…That’s not true,” she said softly. Then she turned in the saddle, eyes sharp as steel. “Brother. Where are you right now?”
”Huh? I’m right here, in front of you.”
”No… that’s not what I mean.”
Her words confused him. “What?”
”This is your dream,” she said. “You’re… younger here. Which means, if this dream is a memory, then your real body must be somewhere else—”
”Gina?”
She was muttering now, voice lost in thought. Klock couldn’t follow. I wish she’d explain properly, he thought. But he stayed quiet. That was what an older brother should do—let her find her words.
”It’s okay, Gina. Take your time.”
”—Brother?!”
The horse halted suddenly. Klock looked up. The road had vanished beneath thick trees. Dense forest surrounded them.
Wait—weren’t they on open plains a moment ago? He looked around, bewildered. Gina stared straight ahead, frozen.
”Finally! You came, Klock! I’ve been waiting forever!”
”…What?”
A girl stood in their path. Long, beastlike ears framed her face. She wore a frilled apron dress and curtsied with exaggerated grace, smiling wide enough to chill the blood.
”Who are you?” Gina demanded, her tone sharp and cold.
The girl giggled. “I am Lady Kispe’s darling pinky—Alice Lau of the Eternal Room.”
Her blood-red eyes glowed like jewels as she looked at them. Gina gasped.
”Cursed Eye—!”
Darkness fell instantly. Vision, light, everything—gone.
No… not gone. Blocked.
Klock could feel his body, but his eyes saw nothing.
”Damn it… trickery again—!”
The darkness faded after only moments, but the forest was empty. No sign of the girl. No sound. Only silence.
”…Brother?” Gina’s voice trembled.
There was no reply.
Notes:
• Gina – A kind choir member who shows genuine concern for Adelina. She’s a rare ally in this unfamiliar place, offering some comfort and companionship.
• Celestina – Another child from Kispe household, playful and mischievous, shows up with Alice Lau in recruitment scenes, frail but lively appearance, beast-like ears marking heritage.
• Alice – Rabbitkin adventurer; appears at the same Barreith gathering, playful and mischievous, interacts with Klock, part of recruited volunteers
• Alice Lau – Child of Kispe household, ceremonial noble from Crimson Spire, appears during partisan recruitment, innocent and fragile, symbolic figure of Six Noble Ladies, pale skin and delicate stature.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply